What is the MSRA?
The Multi-Specialty Recruitment Assessment (MSRA) is a national, computer-based examination used to assess doctors applying for entry into several UK postgraduate specialty training programmes.
It evaluates two key domains:
- Clinical knowledge and problem-solving
- Professional judgement and ethical reasoning
The exam ensures a fair and consistent national standard across specialties, allowing high-performing candidates to progress to interview or direct offers.
Specialties Using the MSRA
The MSRA is used in selection for the following UK postgraduate programmes:
Directly Ranked by MSRA (100% weighting):
- General Practice (GP)
- Core Psychiatry
- Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (CAMHS)
- Forensic Psychiatry
- Medical Psychotherapy
Used for Shortlisting / Combined Scoring:
- Core Surgical Training (CST)
- Clinical Radiology
- Community Sexual & Reproductive Health
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology (O&G)
- Ophthalmology
- Neurosurgery (ST1 entry)
- ACCS Anaesthetics
- Public Health
- Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery (OMFS)
- Paediatrics
(Always confirm weighting details on Oriel before applying.)
Exam Format
The MSRA is delivered via Pearson VUE testing centres and taken in a single sitting. It contains two components:
1. Clinical Problem Solving (CPS)
- Duration: 75 minutes
- Questions: ~86–97 Single Best Answer (SBA) items
- Content: Case-based scenarios across Medicine, Surgery, Paediatrics, O&G, Psychiatry, ENT, Ophthalmology, and Emergency Medicine.
- Skills tested: Clinical reasoning, investigation selection, management, and guideline application.
🩺 Think of it as an applied finals-style paper with emphasis on decision-making and safe practice.
2. Professional Dilemmas (PD)
- Duration: 95 minutes
- Questions: 50 situational judgement scenarios
- Question types:
- Ranking: Order five possible actions from most to least appropriate
- Multiple-choice: Select the three most appropriate actions
- Skills tested: Ethical reasoning, integrity, teamwork, communication, and prioritisation.
⚖️ This paper reflects real-life professional scenarios based on GMC “Good Medical Practice.”
How is the MSRA Scored?
Each paper is marked and scaled separately. Your final MSRA score is the sum of your two scaled section scores, which determines your ranking or shortlisting outcome.
Clinical Problem Solving (CPS)
- Each correct answer = 1 mark
- No negative marking
- Your raw mark (out of ~97) is converted to a scaled score (approx. 250–350) to account for paper difficulty.
| Performance Level | Approx. Raw Mark Range (and %) | Approx. Scaled Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 70–97 marks (72–100%) | 320–350 | Top decile performance |
| Good | 55–69 marks (57–71%) | 290–319 | Meets national standard |
| Borderline | 40–54 marks (41–56%) | 260–289 | Below expected average |
| Low | <40 marks (<41%) | <260 | Below expected standard |
Professional Dilemmas (PD)
Each scenario is scored by alignment with expert key responses:
- Full marks for perfect alignment
- Partial marks for near alignment
- No marks for unsafe or unprofessional actions
Raw marks are then scaled (usually 250–350) for comparability.
| Performance Level | Approx. Alignment (% of ideal answers) | Approx. Scaled Score | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Excellent | 80–100% | 320–350 | Exceptional professional judgement |
| Good | 65–79% | 290–319 | Sound ethical reasoning |
| Borderline | 50–64% | 260–289 | Needs improvement |
| Low | <50% | <260 | Below expected standard |
Final Score Calculation
Your total MSRA score = CPS (scaled) + PD (scaled)
Example:
CPS: 305
PD: 320
Overall MSRA Score = 625
This combined score determines your national ranking and interview eligibility.
Most specialties (CST, Radiology, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, etc.) use the numerical total, not bands, to rank candidates.
What Counts as a Competitive Score?
| Specialty | Approx. Interview / Offer Cut-off (Recent Years) |
|---|---|
| Core Surgical Training (CST) | 570–580 |
| Clinical Radiology | 575–600 |
| Ophthalmology | 560–580 |
| GP Training (Direct Offers) | 540+ |
| Psychiatry | 520+ |
| Public Health | 550–570 |
(Figures vary annually based on cohort performance and scaling.)
Result Bands (for GP Applicants Only)
For General Practice recruitment, candidates also receive a Band (1–4) for each paper.
Other specialties use only the scaled numerical total.
| Band | Approx. Scaled Range | Interpretation |
|---|---|---|
| Band 4 | 320–350 | Excellent / Top Decile |
| Band 3 | 290–319 | Good / Meets Standard |
| Band 2 | 260–289 | Below Average |
| Band 1 | <260 | Below Expected Standard |
Results
- Results are released via Oriel in early February, following the January test window.
- You will receive:
- Scaled score for each section
- Combined total
- Band classification (for GP applicants only)
Why the MSRA Matters
A strong MSRA score can:
- Secure direct offers for GP and Psychiatry
- Guarantee shortlisting for interviews in CST, Radiology, Ophthalmology, and others
- Improve national ranking and increase the likelihood of your preferred training region
📈 Scoring well in the MSRA can transform your specialty application outcome.
How MSRApro Helps You Succeed
At MSRApro, our courses are designed by doctors who have scored in the top deciles, combining strategy, structure, and clinical insight to help you excel.
- Clinical Knowledge Crash Course — 30+ hours of video teaching and 700+ MCQs
- Professional Dilemmas Masterclass — Frameworks, GMC principles, and practice cases
- MSRA e-Flashcards — Concise, high-yield summaries for rapid recall
- Interview Preparation Courses — Mock stations, portfolio feedback, and scoring guidance
🎓 Train smarter. Score higher. Secure your post.
Key Dates — 2026 Recruitment Cycle
| Stage | Date |
|---|---|
| Application Window | October 2025 |
| MSRA Exam Window | 3–16 January 2026 |
| Results Released | Early February 2026 |
(Always confirm the latest dates on Oriel before applying.)
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